What an easy and fun read! The back and forth of characters and timelines sets the stage so perfectly for the story. I was rooting for Sam the entire time to find herself and it was so refreshing to watch her figure it all out in her own way. She was relatable as a thirty something that wasn’t so sure of her future with an equally as compelling past. The other characters in the story all shed light on the complexity of family and how not every family is perfect. Although I wanted a little more of a big finish, I’m glad it ended the way it did. Great read!

After reading a ton of second chance romances and then/now timelines, I just felt a bit bored. This wasn't anything new or profound. Didn't really connect with the characters, though I did like reading about them. Just wanted a bit more from this!

Same Time Next Summer is a captivating childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance romance that had me pining for a sunny, beach town getaway. If you enjoyed Every Summer After by Carley Fortune, Beach Read by Emily Henry, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, or Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, this is the novel for you.

Starting with the structure of the story, I was taken aback slightly. I usually love “Now” and “Then” stories but in this particular novel, the first and third-person narrations are used interchangeably. Although it is distracting and inconsistent, I still found myself unable to put this book down, so clearly, it didn’t affect the quality of reading too much.

The character development of Sam, our main female protagonist, made so much sense to me as a reader. The clear cause-and-effect structure of her story arc felt natural and predictable in the best way possible. Seeing her re-discover her roots and heal her inner child melted my heart. Though I will say, as we get closer to the end of the story, it seemed very out of character for her not to be remorseful over thinking intimately about Wyatt while she was still with Jack. The overnight transition from one relationship back to the other, especially after being engaged, didn’t align with her personality as a child or as an adult. You would think, after what we learn about her parent's relationship, she would be warier about romance.

There was an assertiveness about Wyatt, one of our main male protagonists, that made him seem arrogant and unapologetic at times. I didn’t expect him to mope around about his mistakes, yet a little groveling would’ve been nice. We didn’t see as much of him as I expected, though what we did see of him, especially after the story’s climax, was dissonant. He had so much untapped potential and not exploring it further made him fall flat as a character and love interest.

I love Wyatt. I love Sam. So why am I not head over heels for them as a couple? The chemistry between the two wasn’t off-the-charts, but rather barely scraping the surface. We saw so much of them as teenagers that it disappointed me to see their dynamic as adults.

Speaking of their relationship, the conflict that drove Sam and Wyatt apart was a little too brushed over. It should’ve been a problem that transpired over several chapters, whereas it was written as more of a clean-cut. Both of them treated it as a black-and-white situation, which it was not. I wanted to see more of Wyatt’s inner turmoil leading up to the moment where he reveals this secret to Sam. On that same note, we saw more of Wyatt’s struggles after their separation than we saw of Sam’s which created more of a disconnect from her character and the empathy we could’ve felt for her. The newfound tension between both Sam and Wyatt’s parents would’ve been an amazing opportunity to create more of those heart-wrenching moments that foreshadow what we see as the “end” of Sam and Wyatt’s relationship.

I would’ve loved to have read an epilogue. It seemed like such a long build-up to such little reward. I understand that this is an artistic choice, though it would’ve added more depth to the validity of their relationship. The absence of an epilogue just made the pacing toward the end of the story seem drastic compared to the moderate tempo throughout the rest of the novel.

Overall though, it’s a comfortable and easy summer read that earned 3.5 out of five stars from me.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Annabel Monaghan for providing me with this ARC. As always, all opinions are my own and are not influenced by early access to this title.

Very cute storyline. I think we all have that one summer love. Needs some editing but overall a good read. Will be looking for more from this author.

This book gave me Every Summer After vibes. I loved it. it's so perfect and I love the yellow cover. I love this author and can't wait for the next book!

As a diehard Norah Goes Off Script fan, I was hoping to love this more! It was still a sweet, enjoyable story but my standards after Norah (which consumed me) were just so high. Still so grateful that I had the opportunity to read this early! Thank you #NetGalley.

This was a really fun and cute summer read. Loved the happy ending but maybe it happened a little too quickly for my liking. However, I would love to know what happens in the future for Sam and Wyatt so clearly it was good enough for me to be invested in the characters. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was super excited to read this - second chance romance by an author I have enjoyed in the past. Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. It’s a storyline I feel like I’ve read before and the characters were not very memorable. For me they weren’t well-developed and the personalities of some characters didn’t seem to jive with their actions. I liked the “Now” portion much more than the “Then” portion but this is not a book I would highly recommend.

Another hit from this author!! I loved the story line, was deeply invested in the characters, and couldn't wait to see how it all played out! After finishing the book I found myself missing the characters and wishing they were real-life people! Such a fun, swoon worthy story.

4.5 out of 5. This might be your book of the summer for 2023. Totally in the Every Summer After and The Summer I turned Pretty vibe, and equally as wonderful and engaging. I really enjoyed the mix of the two timelines and how screwed up but wonderful Sam is. Additionally plenty of twists you don't see coming so that is always a nice surprise. Annabel Monaghan was one of the wonderful surprises this year with Nora Takes Off and she delivers and even surpasses expectations with her second book.

This book! I was obsessed with Monaghan's Nora Goes Off Script, but this book, Same Time Next Summer, was literally unputdownable. I stayed up way past my bedtime because I had to know what happened. This is a book about love, second-chance romance, family, specifically relationships with parents and siblings, found families, small towns and how to know what is right for you. I was a little worried in the first half that, although super enjoyable, it was going to be too similar to Jenny Han's, The Summer I Turned Pretty. However, this book surpassed that young adult tale and bloomed into an excellent and propulsive story of love, loss and what it means to find your way home.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. Quick warning: this review may contain *slight* spoilers.

Annabel Monaghan has done it again. I am obsessed with Same Time Next Summer the same way I am obsessed with Nora Goes Off Script (which I also reviewed). This book is like the big sister to Love & Other Words by Christina Lauren and The Summer I Turned Pretty series by Jenny Han. I am in love with the entire thing.

Sam returns to her parents' beach house for a weekend with her fiancé Jack. While there, she runs into Wyatt, her childhood sweetheart whom she hasn't seen since their breakup over a decade ago. She now has to prepare for her upcoming wedding while dealing with all of the emotions of her past relationship.

Sam and Wyatt are soulmates. I spent the entire book screaming and crying over them. I loved how Wyatt knew what Sam really wanted out of a wedding and pushed her into realizing she wasn't happy. The chapters from when they were younger were so sweet and I couldn't stop smiling over them.

The side characters are amazing. Sam's family is so supportive and I found myself wishing they were real so I could hang out with them. Their interactions with each other and the main characters were all perfect.

I cannot stop obsessing over Sam's character growth. The book has multiple chapters from her younger years and it was so interesting to see her change from a kid to a teenager to a grown woman. The arc was so well done; it felt very natural.

As always, Annabel Monaghan's writing was perfect. I was sucked in from the first page and didn't resurface until I hit the acknowledgments. This book is a story about coming back to yourself. It's about returning to that old love and finding you still fit together, even though you've both grown and changed.

I cannot wait for her next book. Same Time Next Summer is one of the easiest 5 stars I've ever given.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Same time next summer switches between past and present in the lives of Wyatt and Sam. They grew up spending summers together on Long Island and reunite when Sam is back with her fiancé, to plan her wedding.

I was hesitant about this book because it sounded very similar to Every Summer After and Love and Other Words, but I really loved it. I smiled and teared up throughout the book, and Every Summer After added new elements to the summer love of youth trope.

Thank you to NetGallery and the publisher for this eARC. Between 2.5-3 stars.

Ever since her breakup with her first love, childhood best friend, and summer beach house neighbor, Wyatt, Sam's hated Long Island, She usually refuses to stays there for more than a week at a time. Now, 14 years after that break-up, Sam is engaged to Jack, this perfect doctor, and she's back for a long visit to Long Island to plan her wedding with the help of her parents. Unexpectedly, Wyatt also happens to be hanging out in Long Island this summer. Sam never got over Wyatt, and he causes her to question her new life, and reflect back to their summer love over a decade ago.

The main characters were boring and didn't really have any personalities. There was also almost no plot other than the characters running into each other. Lots of flashbacks to the past which didn't really help build chemistry between two characters that were supposed to be in love. Also, there was so much emotional cheating. Jack seemed like a good guy, just not the right guy for Sam. At least have the decency to break-up with him first. Sorry, it's just like really hard for me to get into books where there's some type of cheating.

What a splendid book! Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan is the perfect beach read. Or the perfect read for a winter day when you wish you were at the beach.

"If you've loved someone your whole life, it kind of makes sense that you'd love them forever."

The story follows Sam, a 30-year-old about to marry Jack, the doctor who makes her feel safe. They live in Manhattan, work hard at their jobs, and have a well-scripted life. Searching for wedding venues, they go to the Long Island town where Sam's parents have a beach house. Sam learns Wyatt, the boy who broke her heart as a teen, is staying at his mom's place next door. The story switches back and forth between "then" and "now" and between Sam's point of view and Wyatt's, giving us a glimpse into Wyatt and Sam's childhood relationship. They were young, they were in love, it's a relationship that gives you all the feels as they're "falling in love in small moments." Now Sam must decide if Jack is the right person for her and if she is really over Wyatt.

Is the story totally predictable? Mostly, yes. Is it a page-turner that makes you want to give everyone a hug? Most definitely.

I loved this book. The writing was good -- Monaghan blended the past and present, two points of view, likable characters, and the right amount of comedy into this enjoyable, light-hearted love story.

Highly recommend it to anyone who likes a solid love story in a small beach town.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC in exchange for my review.

The kindle version is not formatted correctly and so I was not able to comfortably read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

This was the CUTEST. I’m so excited to read more from this author. I fell in love with all the characters, and was rooting for each of them in the end. I devoured this over a weekend and couldn’t put it down!

This is a great second chance love story. Overall, I really loved this book. Sam and her doctor fiancé go back to her childhood summer home on the beach to work on their wedding plans. While there, Sam runs into her first love from when she was a teenager. As the story goes on, we find out why and how they broke up in the first place, along with all the things she's done to keep herself "safe" from that happening ever again. And then she realizes she's that everything she's become isn't really who she is or wants to be as a person.

I really loved seeing her transformation from start to finish, and then a second transformation and finding her true self at the end of the book. The author did a great job of describing the beach, the sounds, even the smell of the salt and ocean on their skin and hair. I do wish that we would have had a better look into who Wyatt is as an adult instead of just as a teenager. We do get glimpses of it throughout, but it would have given his character a little more depth. I feel the same way about the fiancé. We get bits and pieces of his character from Sam, but no real depth to him.

When I first started the reading, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. Honestly, it came through to my Kindle a little weird (random words had hyphens, the author's name would randomly appear mid page, etc). I am glad I pushed through it though, because I did really enjoy the book as a whole.

Thank you to Penguin Group for letting me read and review another ARC!

Thank you so much Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley!

Sam is engaged to Jack who is a doctor!!!! She returns home to Long Island to plan their wedding and runs into the guy who broke her heart when she was 17.

This book falls victim to the overworked plot of girl is in love with current man, girl returns home and runs into other guy who broke her heart when she thought they were meant to be as teenagers. It helps when the author writes the current guy as an asshole. Here, Jack definitely has a stick up his ass so it makes it easy for the reader to root for Sam's happiness. I'm not tired of this plot and it's nice to think of life as a teenagers and wonder what if. I really liked Sam's family and think they are the stars of this book. It was also nice watching Sam learn to empower herself and go after what she truly wanted out of life overall (not just her love life).

Reviewed for NetGalley:


I absolutely adored Norah Goes Off Script, so was very excited to get an early copy of Same Time Next Summer.

Sam, returns home to her family beach house for the first time in years, uncertain about the future of a career with her fiancé in tow. However, shortly after returning, she realizes the boy next door, Wyatt, her first love is also back home for the summer.

The novel moves back and forth between the past, and present day to share what became of Sam and Wyatt’s relationship, and the potential for what could still occur between the two.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sam and Wyatt’s relationship. However, I did not feel the reason for their falling out was all that believable.

Great read.